Charles Barkley takes a serious turn

In this May 2, 2015, file photo, Charles Barkley joins the crowd before the start of the world welterweight championship bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

Photo: John Locher, Associated Press

STATELINE, Nev. — Charles Barkley can work a gallery, although “work” is probably the wrong word. The fans who flock to the American Century Championship are putty in the hands of Sir Charles, who, by the end of his daily 18, has insulted, flattered and/or charmed half the folks on the course.

But now Barkley has a new gallery to work, and an opportunity to do something far more impactful than bust up his adoring fans at Lake Tahoe.

Barkley has a foot in the door at the very highest levels of government and power. And America’s favorite sports funnyman is dead serious about taking advantage of his newfound influence.

Intriguing, but I didn’t get a chance to get the full story until Saturday, when I walked the first five holes with Barkley as he attacked the Edgewood course, and fended off its counterattack.

The story: Over the past few years, Barkley has donated millions of dollars toward the education of poor children. Word gets around, and Barkley was invited to appear Tuesday at the Allen Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho.

The Allen Conference is a weeklong get-together of the nation’s super-elite in the business, media and political world. It has been called a summer camp for billionaires, who bond while golfing and rafting.

This year’s campers included Rupert Murdoch, Tom Brokaw, Roger Goodell, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. Barkley’s invite came through Brokaw, who is an old pal.

Barkley was asked to participate on a panel discussion Tuesday, where he got a chance to talk about his “mission” of narrowing the gap between America’s rich and poor. He shared the panel with former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns and noted author Wes Moore.

I asked Barkley if he thought the Allen people brought him there for laughs, or whether they seriously wanted to hear his message.

“No, this ain’t a laugh crowd,” he said. “Those people understand what my mission is; that’s why I got invited. So I knew going in it was a serious thing. I have no problem talking about that part of my life. I use the TV and the basketball to get my message out and to help my causes.”

More from Scott Ostler

Barkley said it was a bit intimidating — “I’m a little black kid from Leeds, Ala., and I’m going to speak to
this
group?” — but he thought he made his points. And since leaving the conference and coming to Tahoe, he has received a couple of texts from Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law.

“He said he really appreciated the speech,” Barkley said, “and wanted to know if we could sit down and talk.”

When?

“Hopefully, some time in the next few weeks,” Barkley said. “I just want to make sure he’s legitimate. Like, I don’t want to (pose for a photo op), I’m really trying to make a difference when it comes to poverty.”

The last thing Barkley wants is to be exploited to boost the sagging approval ratings of an administration about which he has reservations. Barkley is Democrat, but not a blind follower. He believes his party is not fault-free.

He also believes that if you have a voice and something to say, you should speak up, just in case someone is listening. What he’s saying is pretty basic:

“Rich people gotta help poor people get an education,” Barkley said. “When you’re rich and successful, your goal is to help poor people. ... I use a baseball analogy. If you’re born poor in this country, you’re going to go to a s— school, and live in a s— neighborhood. How many times (are) you going to get a hit if every time you step up to the plate you’ve got two strikes? It’s not right, and it’s not fair.”

Barkley donated $1 million each to three historically black universities, $2 million to his alma mater, Auburn, and $1 million to his old high school — all to further education for disadvantaged students.

The people in the current administration, with their health-care and tax-cuts-for-wealthy plans, wouldn’t seem the ideal congregation for Barkley’s preaching, but he is undaunted. What if they do listen?

“All you can do is your part,” Barkley said. “I tell people every day, they’re like, ‘Dude, this is (impossible).’ First of all, shut up. The only thing you can do in life is your part. Nothing’s going to stop my mission.”

On his weight: “I’ve lost 26 pounds. Got 40 to go. Just working out, eating better. First of all, I want to apologize to my family and friends, lettin’ them down and getting fat, ’cause I shouldn’t do that. But you know, the last couple of years I’ve had two hip replacements, I just got lazy afterward, I gained about 80 pounds, and that’s my fault. This summer, I took the entire summer off other than (the American Century Championship), to get in shape.”

Barkley denied that his new diet consists of eating crow over his Warriors predictions.

On his new cross-handed grip on the clubs, which he unveiled Friday: “It was (golf guru) Hank Haney’s idea. I have no hesitation (in his swing) at all. I hit more good shots yesterday than I have in the last five years” here.

On the Warriors: Friday at a late-night party spot in Harrah’s casino, Barkley twice took the mike and congratulated the Warriors for their title. On Saturday, he said, “The Warriors are good, man. They got lucky getting Kevin Durant, he saved the jump-shooting team. They’re great for the league, but if he hadn’t gone there, I really like my argument about jump-shooting teams can’t win the championship. He changed the balance of power.”

On the Warriors’ plans to move to San Francisco: “It’s a shame the Golden State Warriors are moving to San Francisco. They could stay and rebuild Oakland. Why not stay in Oakland and rebuild? ... It’s just not right. Even when the Warriors were lousy, it was a great place to play. That did disappoint me.”

Scott Ostler

Former A’s pitcher Mulder in lead

STATELINE, Nev. — Former A’s pitcher Mark Mulder, the two-time defending champion, shot a 3-under-par 69 Saturday and totaled 48 points through two rounds to lead the American Century Championship.

Mulder, an All-Star with Oakland in 2003 and ’04, holds a three-point lead over former major-league pitcher Derek Lowe and former top-ranked American tennis player Mardy Fish. Sharks forward Joe Pavelski is tied for sixth (38), and Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is tied for 13th (32).

The scoring system awards points for eagles, birdies and pars and deducts for bogeys or worse.

Scott Ostler has been a sports columnist at the San Francisco Chronicle since 1991. He has covered five Olympics for The Chronicle, as well as one soccer World Cup and numerous World Series, Super Bowls and NBA Finals.

Though he started in sports and is there now, Scott took a couple of side trips into the real world for The Chronicle. For three years he wrote a daily around-town column, and for one year, while still in sports, he wrote a weekly humorous commentary column.

He has authored several books and written for many national publications. Scott has been voted California Sportswriter of the Year 13 times, including six times while at The Chronicle. He moved to the Bay Area from Southern California, where he worked for the Los Angeles Times, the National Sports Daily and the Long Beach Press-Telegram.